Centrifugal compressor



Aug. 25, 1931. P.'D. CALDWELL 1,820,344

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l a 3 InventorJ N T v 1 405% A llornc y Aug. 25, 1931.

P. D. CALDWELL CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25,19150 Inventor Filed Nov. 25, 19:50 3 Shets-Shedt s Invenior JEEZZdzueZZM I 1 By wand. I I A Home y necessary.

Patented Au .2 5,1931 i i s i a I 1,820,344

UNITED STATESPA EN -j O F CE.

PRINoEn; CALDWELL, OF Los 'ANGELEs; CALIFQRNIA i ICENTRIFUGAL,CQMIPRESSbRi Application filed November 25, 19 30.? sens n/4983513.

This invention relates to a centrifugalcomtaken substantially on theline "55 of Figpressor which is particularly for use'on reure 1. I p z pw I I I frigerating and ice making machines or apj ,Referring tothe'drawingsin detaihi and paratus, but it is to be understood, ofcourse, to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seenthat 5 that acompressor in accordance with this the reference numeral designatesasuitable to invention may be usedwith any kind of apbase'upon theoppositeendportionsof which paratus forwhich the sameis found adaptedaremounted the standards 2 having suitable and desirable. I p i Jbearings 3 on their upper ends inYwhichare An important object of theinvention is'to journaled' for rotationithe opposite end por' 10provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, tions ofan elongated,horizontally disposed a centrifugal 'compressorof the aforemen shaft 4having fixed on one end portiona tione-d" character embodying 'aplurality of suitable coupling5 forconnecting the shaft connected fluidimpellingor driving units of 4 with the shaft of an 'electricunotor (notthe vcentrifugal type wherein no valves are shown) or'other suitablesource ofp'ower for p I f j actuation.- The base 1 and the vshaft my 7Another important object of the invention be of any desired length,aslwill be apparent, is to provide'a centrifugal compressor of'theLongitudinallyaligned housings 6," 7 '8,-

character described embodying a novel con- 9, aI 1d 10 a-1'e mountedvertically on the'base a struction and arrangement of fluid impelling 1between the standards "2 through the c units together with novel meansfor preventp medium of the integral supporting feet 11 ing leakage ofthe fluid from the compress havingthe'out-turned apertured flanges 1201isors, j I i theirjlow er e'nds'for the passage ofxsuitable Other objectsof the invention are to proanchoring bolts or the like 13. The shaft-.4l vide a centrifugal compressor for refrigerat- "extends centrallythrough all of thehous- ,7

25 i a d ice aking machines'which will be ings. Each of the housingscomprises upper v j simple in construction, strong, durable, highandlower half sections provided with aperly efficient in operation andwhich may be tured flanges for bolting the sections togethermanufactured at low cost. v s with as'uitable gasket betweenthemQ-"Houls'f- All of the foregoing and stillfurther obg ings 859, and10 are provided with jackets 3 jects and advantages of the inventionmay'14 to providewa'ter circulating spaces -15 v become apparentfrom astudy of the follow- I whichare connectedwith each other'and with ingspecification; taken in connection with asuitable sourceofwatersupply'by the'pipes I the aocompaying drawings wherein like char-16 In this manner the fluid'impelling units V acters of referencedesignate corresponding of which the housings 8 9 and 1.0 area part 1parts throughout the several views, and are water cooled. "Fixedonctheshaf-J 1'for5 wherein 'i a f i V V rotation therewith in each of thehousings-'5 Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a to 10, inclusive,is acentrifugal fluid impeller compressor constructed in accordancewith'17 having a centrally "disposed chamberlS this invention. with "which afluid'intake opening 19 com- 1 Figure2is avertical longitudinalsectional municates on one side] offthe 'impel1er17; 90.

i 45 impeller unit which is not provided with iiery {spaced inwardly,from the correspondview through one ofthe water cooled centrif-Fluid'passages 2O radiateffrom the central I ugal fluid impelled units.chamber .18."and extend to the periphery of Figure 3 is a viewinvertical longitudinal the impeller 17. As will be seen the impellersection through the forwardmost centrifugal 17 has its front and rearwalls and its periphf 'ter cooling means i. i ingwalls and the eri heryof theliOuSlng. V Figure & is avertical cross sectional view Eachimpeller 17 is provided withan integral taken substantially on the line44 of Fighub portion 21 which'p'rojects into ithefcen ure'2. i tralchamber-18. As willibe'apparent,'the

' Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectionalview hub 21 support's'theimpeller on'theshafte and is provided with a longitudinal groove whichregisters with the longitudinal groove 22 provided in the shaft 4 forthe reception of a key 23 for securing the impeller 17 to the shaft 4against rotation. It is understood, of course, that the shaft 4 isprovided with a groove or key-way 22 for each of the housin s 6 to 10,inclusive. Each of the hubs 21 of t e impellers 17 has threadedthereinto a set screw 24 for engagement with the key 23 for securingsaid key against longitudinal movement in the groove or keyway 22.

The forward side of each of the housings 6 to 10, inclusive, is providedwith a central ly disposed opening of materially greater diameter thanthe shaft 4 and projecting through said opening is an annular flange 25formed integrally with the forward side of the impeller 17 and disposedin spaced con centric relation to the shaft 4. The diameter of theflange 25 is greater than that of the fluid intake opening 19 oftheirnpeller 1 7 andthus an internal flange 26 is provided which isdisposed in spaced concentric rela tion to the shaft 4for. providing thefluid intake opening 19,. i

A supporting bracket 2? rises the base 1 between the housing 6 and theadjacent standard 2 and supports, on its upper end, the fluid intakeconduit 28 through which the shaft 4 extends longitudinally and which isspaced concentrically from the shaft 4 in a in an t Provi e ie s e aw 291mag we n s memeieet e w th the fluid n ak s cies 19 n he andle 1 -Afluid n t 3 ten upw rdly f m the inta'e etlie Pe -li f th e i t 2340onne i n h a su a fluid we r P pe (se haw e ei de s eas aidie l r mm thfla 25 in spee 1 ei a' re ati t aid lan e 2 and e minates the flange,26; an extension rii i' ets f rwa dly tram the on u t 28 n s a ed emnts-is e a i ai e af 4 and'mounted thereinare suitable packing rii s' 2e wesns f a s of (h is m u e a 9i 1i 33 A P r 3 i i ievide f lubr atinthe hafts etth Pain 41ml ing adjus ing nut or gland 30, is threaded intothe, extension 31 for compressingthe pe king r s W ei it s SO i d:

E ch, o th Mu g .6 s 0.; nelin va s provided, on its forward side withan integral, forwardly projecting. neck 36 which dispesed spacedconcentric relation to the flange 25 on the impeller 17 and: the neck 36is pnqvided with an. out-turned, integral apertured flange 3'? onitsfree end portion. Suitable packing rings 38 of compressible materialare Inonnted between the neck 36 and the flees-e 2 an i ab il lanterns3,9 a e disp d be w e g ps of e mi kn ng 3 A Oil e 'iSP 9-ride fs lnricatin the outer periphery of the flange 2 when ma hine i n op rates:rel:-

ing rings 41 of suitable compressible material are disposed between theflanges 25 and the fluid intake conduit 28 of each unit and an oillantern 42 is disposed between groups of the packing rings 41. Stoprings 41 are threaded on the intake conduits 28 for retaining thepacking rings 41 thereon. A duct 43 is provided in the fluid intakeconduit 28 to permit lubricating oil to be forced by any suitable meansbetween the flange 25 and the conduit 28 for lubricating the innerperiphery of the flange 25.

'An internally threaded annulus 44 is rigidly mounted in forwardlyspaced relation 20 the flange 37 through the medium of the screws 45upon which are mounted the spacing collars 46 which are interposedbetween the flange and the annulus 44. The inner periphery of' theannulus 44 is disposed in spaced, concentric relation to the fluidintake conduit 28 and threaded into said annulns for longitudinaladjustment on the conduit 28 is a compressing flange or nut which isengageable with the packing rings 41 for compressing the same to thedesired degree.

The annulus 44 has its forward side recessed to rotatably receive aninternally toothed ring gear 48 which is retained rotatab ly in positionby a suitable retaining ring 49 which is threaded into the recessprovided in the annulus 44 for the ring gear 48. A packing compressingring 50 entends between the free end portions of the neck 36 and theflange 25 fer longitudinal adjustment and is engageable with the packingrings 38 for compressing the same when it is so desired. Threaded atspaced points into the side of the compressing ring 50 which is free ofthe packing rings 88 are a plurality of threaded shankshl which arejournaled transversely througlnthe annulus 44. and are retained againstlongitudinal movement relative to the annulus 44 bythe flanges 52 whichare fined on the shanks 51 and engageahle with one side of the annulus44 and the gears 53 which are fixed on the shanks 52 and engageable withthe other side of the annulus 44. Thegears are in mesh with the ringgear 48. Polygonal heads 54 are, fixed on the outer portions of theshanks 51 for receiving a suitable actuating tool such as a wrench forrotating the shanks 51. i

It will thus be seen that when one of the shanks 51 i s rotated, theremaining shanks 51 are simultaneously rotated to niove the compressingring 50 toward or away from the packing rings 38.-

The housings 6 to 10, inclusive, are connected with each other by theconduit-s 55 which are identical in construction and arrangement withthe fluid intake conduit 28 with the exception that their forwardendsare secured, by belts or the like 56. to. the forwardly adjacenthousing, the bolt 56 passing. through apertured flanges 57 formedintegrally on the conduits 55 and anchored in f said forwardly adjacenthousings. The intake opening 30 and the elements 31 to 35 which areassociated with the fluid intake conduit 28 are, of course, eliminatedfrom the unit connecting conduits 55. The conduits 55 are, of course,spaced, concentrically from the shaft 4. Therear side of each of thehousings 6 to 9, inclusive, is-provided-with a' fluid outlet opening 58in communication with the unit connecting conduits 55. A,

suitable packing gland 59 is provided on the rear wall of the rearmosthousing 10 through which the shaft 4 extends for v preventing leakage ofthe fluid at this point. The packing unit 59 is preferably similar inconstruc tion to the packing unit comprised by the elements 31 to 35,inclusive. Therearmost housing 10 is provided with an upstanding gasoutlet neck or opening 60 which'is at one side of the rearmost housingand is provided with, a suitable flange on its upper end for connectionwith a discharge pipe (not shown).

As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings,

the oil lanterns 39 and 42 have their side,

walls provided with holes 61 to receive a suitable tool for removingsaid lanterns when it is so desired. All of the oil lanterns which areused in themachine are provided with these holes. I

In operation, the fluid enters the intake conduit 28 through the intakeopening 30 and passes through the passage 29' and through the opening 19into the central chamber 18 of the rotary centrifugal impeller 17 in thefirst housing 6. When the shaft 4 is rotating and'thus driving theimpeller 17 v the fluid will be thrown by centrifugal force through theradiating passages 20 against the inner periphery of the housing 6 andwill thenpass inwardly between the rear wall of the impeller 17 and therear wall of the housing 6 and escape through theoutlet opening 58 intothe unit connecting conduit 55 and pass through'the next impeller unitof which the housing 7 is an element. The operation is then repeateduntil the fluid reaches the housing 10, Where said fluid is expelledthrough the outlet opening orneck 60 into a suitable conduit or pipe(not shown). The housings 6 to 10, inclusive,are provided with removabledrain plugs 63 in their lower portions. Suitable lubricating" means (notshown) may beprovided on the bearings 3 for, the shaft 4. It will alsobe understood that any desired numberof the fluid impelling units may beprovided.

It is believed that the many advantages of acompressor in accordancewith this invention will be readily understood, and although thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,it is to be understood that changes in the details of con- :strimnon'imbe had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. IWhatisclaimedis: p 1-.Acompressor of the character described comprisingabase, a series of longitudinally aligned impeller units mounted on the'base', a rotary. shaft extending longitudinally through theunits, eachunit including ahous ing'having acentrally disposed fluidinlet I openingin one side and a centrally disposed fluid outlet opening in itsopposite side, con

duits connected to the'respective outlet openings and'extending-betweenthe housings for passing the fluid therebtween, the shaft pass= ingthrough the openings and conduits in spaced," concentric relationthereto, an in+ tegral neck extending longitudinally from theforwardside of each housing in spaced, cone 7 ,centr1c; surround1ngrelationto the ad acent conduit, a centrifugal "impeller fixed on the'85 shaftfor-rotation in each housing and spaced therefrom, an integralflange extending 1011- gitudinally from one's ide of theimpeller-'between the neck and'theconduitin spaced conopening in onesideand a centrally disposed I b fluid outlet I opening" in its oppositeside, conduitsconnected to the respective outlet openings and extendingbetween .the housings for passing the fluid therebetwee n, the shaftpass 6 ing h, p gs an conduits in spaced, concentric; relation jthereto, an integral neck extending longitudinallyfroni theforward sideof eachhousing in spaced, con centric, surrounding relation to'theadjacent conduit, a centrifugal impeller fixed on the shaft for rotationin each housingand spaced therefrom, an'iintegral flange extendinglongitudinally from 'o'ne siderofthe impeller between the neck and theconduit inspacedconcentric relation; to said neck and conduit, andsealing means between the-flange and the neck and between the flange andthe condu'it, said means comprising aninternally threaded an- *nulusrigidly supported in spaced relation to the 'free end of the neck anddisposed in spaced, concentric relationtothe conduit, a gland'encirclingthe conduit and threaded through the'annulus' for longitudinaladjustment between. the flange and the conduit,

packing rings disposed between the'fl ange 7 and the conduit forengagement an'd'compressionlbythei flange, packing ringsdisposedibetweent heflange and lthe neck, a ring i adaptedforlongitudinal movement between 1 a the flange and the neck andengageable with the last named packing rings for compressing 4 mensesthe sam a pl ra i y f h n journa ed transversely for rotation throughthe annulus and having one end portion threaded into a th ng n a man e tsh ft said r ng l ng & udinally po ro ation of th han s and flanges onthe sh nks eng g d w th th a nulus for retaining said shanks against thelongitudinal movement in one direction.

3. A compressor of the character described 10 comprising a base, aseries of longitudinally aligned impeller units mounted on the base, arotary shaft extending longitudinally through the units, each unitincluding a housing having a centrally disposed fluid in- 15 let openingin one side and a centrally disposed fluid outlet opening in itsopposite side, conduits connected to the respective outlet openings andextending between the hou ings for passing the fluid therebetween, theg0 shaft passing through the openings and cone duits in spaced,concentric relation thereto, an integral neck extending longitudinallyfrom the forward side of each housing in spaced, concentric, surroundingrelation to as the adjacent conduit, a centrifugal impeller fixed on theshaft for rotation in each housing and spaced therefrom, an integralflange extending longitudinally from one side of the impeller betweenthe neck and the conduit 30 in spaced concentric relation to said neckand conduit, and sealing means between the flange and the neck andbetween the flange and the conduit, said means comprising an internallythreaded annulus rigidly supported in spaced an relation to the freeend'of the neck and dis.- posed in spaced, concentric relation to theconduit, a gland encircling the conduit and threaded through the annulusfor longitudinal adjustment between the flange and the conduit, packingrings disposed between the flange and the conduit for engagement andcompression by the flange, packing rings disposed between the flangearid the neck, a ring adapted for longitudinal movement between is theflange and the neck and engageable with the last named packing rings forcompressing the same, a plurality of shanks journaled transversely forrotation through the annus ins and having one end portion threaded intothe ring in a mannerto, shift said ring long-i1 tudinally upon rotationof the shanks, and flanges on the shanks engaged with the an nulus forretaining said shanks against the longitudinal movement in one.direction, gears fixed on the shanks, and an internally thread? ed ringgear mounted for rotation in the an? nulus, said ring gear meshing withthe gears on the shanks and constituting means for onerativelyconnecting the shanks together for M simultaneous rotation.

a In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

PRINCE D. CALDWELL.

